Best 40 Inch TVs

Updated: Nov 27, 2023 1:06 PM
163

Total TVs Models

799

Reviews Analyzed

19

Total TVs Brands

163

Total TVs Models

163

Reviews Analyzed

19

Total TVs Brands

When it comes to finding the best TV on the market, you’ll find plenty of options in the best 40 inch TV category. Of course, a little research will certainly make it easier. A 40-inch TV is a perfect choice if you’re looking to upgrade your screen size but don’t have the space or the desire for a really big model.

At this size, the best models are OLED and QLED TVs with smart functionality and support for 4K resolution and HDR, allowing you to enjoy a spectacular visual experience. If you want it to work with Amazon Alexa or Google home, you’ll find plenty of models with Amazon TV, Roku TV, or Android TV capabilities, too, along with voice control. A TV of this size should also have plenty of connection options so that you can hook up your game console and other peripherals. Keep reading to see what 40-inch TVs are, their pros and cons, how long they last, and other aspects. Keep reading to learn more about choosing the best 40-inch TV for yourself.

Product
True Score
Price
1
LG C2 OLED TV

LG C2 OLED TV

  • Best Computer Monitor

93
$1,399.00
$2,500
SAVE $1,101
2
Sony A90K OLED TV
86
$1,298.00
$1,300
SAVE $2
3
Insignia NS 43D420NA20
85
$299.99
4
Samsung QN90B Neo QLED TV
84
$1,047.99
$1,198
SAVE $150
5
LG C3 OLED TV

LG C3 OLED TV

  • Best Gaming

84
6
Samsung The Frame
83
$499.00
$528
SAVE $29
7
Samsung QN90C NEO QLED Series
82
$2,079.00
$1,500
SAVE $-579

Top 40-Inch TVs

  • LG

    LG C2 OLED TV

    • Best Computer Monitor

    Overall, the LG C2 OLED TV is a good mid-range TV. While there are some uniformity and software concerns, it’s a top-notch choice if you desire outstanding visuals and immersive gaming, though other brands now offer OLED alternatives with more features.

    Read Full Review → : LG C2 OLED TV

    True Score

    93
    94
    12

    Experts

    39
    28k

    Customers

    Award Icon
    Cosmic Wonder
    SAVE $1,101
    $2,499.99
    $1,399.00
  • Sony

    Sony A90K OLED TV

    • Best OLED

    The Sony A90K OLED TV boasts HDMI 2.1, deep blacks, excellent reflection diffusion, and a fast response time, making it excellent for those looking for small-sized TVs to use as a monitor. However, its lack of FreeSync can be a dealbreaker to gamers.

    Read Full Review → : Sony A90K OLED TV

    True Score

    86
    85
    7

    Experts

    12
    494

    Customers

    Award Icon
    Absolutely Fresh
    SAVE $2
    $1,299.99
    $1,298.00

    Category Snapshot

    TVs

    • Total Brands/Products Tested

      19 Brands, 163 Products

    • Top 2 Brands

      LG, Hisense

    • Price Range (Budget-Premium)

      $400-$2000

    • Average True Score

      70.76%

    • Important Test Criteria

      Brightness (cd/m2)
      Contrast Ratio (1000:1)

    • Most Trusted Testers

    • Recommended Retailer

    • Typical Warranty

      1 year

    • Covered by Insurance

      Yes – AKKO

    • Test Methodology

      TV Testing Methodology

  • Insignia

    Insignia NS 43D420NA20

    With good viewing angles, rich color detail, and decent motion handling, the Insignia LED TV will satisfy casual TV watchers who won’t mind being unable to stream 4K or HDR content online.

    Read Full Review → : Insignia NS 43D420NA20

    True Score

    85
    85
    2

    Experts

    84
    42

    Customers

    Award Icon
    Absolutely Fresh
    $299.99
  • Samsung

    Samsung QN90B Neo QLED TV

    • Best Seniors

    The Samsung QN90B Neo QLED TV impresses with stunning brightness, low input lag, and great gaming features, but it’s pricey and lacks Dolby Vision. It’s an excellent choice for cinematic visuals and gaming enthusiasts.

    Read Full Review → : Samsung QN90B Neo QLED TV

    True Score

    84
    87
    9

    Experts

    93
    3k

    Customers

    Award Icon
    Absolutely Fresh
    SAVE $150
    $1,197.99
    $1,047.99
  • LG

    LG C3 OLED TV

    • Best Gaming

    LG C3 OLED TV has great picture quality, near-infinite contrast ratio, and deep, inky blacks for an immersive experience. If you’re looking for a top-notch OLED experience, the C3 is excellent; otherwise, consider the more budget-friendly C2 model.

    Read Full Review → : LG C3 OLED TV

    True Score

    84
    85
    8

    Experts

    8
    2k

    Customers

    Award Icon
    Absolutely Fresh
  • Samsung

    Samsung The Frame

    The Samsung 2021 Frame TV is great due to its exceptional response time, peak brightness, and contrast ratio. But the TV has very poor viewing angles, a reflective screen, and it inexplicably does not have local dimming.

    Read Full Review → : Samsung The Frame

    True Score

    83
    83
    6

    Experts

    86
    936

    Customers

    Award Icon
    Absolutely Fresh
    SAVE $29
    $527.95
    $499.00
  • Samsung

    Samsung QN90C NEO QLED Series

    • Best Bright Room

    The premium and versatile Samsung QN90C Neo QLED shines for movies, sports, and video games with its lifelike colors, high brightness, contrast, and nighttime clarity. Its quick response time and low input lag enhance immersion, but the slightly narrow viewing angle limits party viewing.

    Read Full Review → : Samsung QN90C NEO QLED Series
    A review of the Samsung QN90C

    True Score

    82
    85
    8

    Experts

    48
    664

    Customers

    Award Icon
    Absolutely Fresh
    SAVE $-579
    $1,499.99
    $2,079.00

Beginner’s Guide to 40 Inch TVs

What is a 40 Inch TV?

A 40-inch TV is simply a television that’s 40 inches wide diagonally, comes with support for Full HD or 4K resolution, and may or may not have smart features or built-in internet functionality. A television of this size is perfect for comfortably viewing from 6 to 8 feet away, so it’s the perfect size for medium-sized living rooms since it won’t dominate your space. If you need to move it from room to room, 40-inch models won’t be too large for mobile television stands, either.

40 Inch TVs vs Other TVs

A 40-inch screen size TV is similar to other TVs in displaying images, but the primary difference is in terms of size. A TV of this size is going to be too big for small rooms like the kitchen or a dorm room — you’ll want something smaller for those spaces, like a 24 or 32-inch model. However, if you’re looking for TVs for a bedroom or den, you’ll want to compare 40-inch vs 55-inch TVs.

Due to the small size, you also will not find OLED TVs in 40 inches (Usually, these come as 50-inch TVs), as these units use either LCD, LED, or QLED technology with 1080p or 4K resolution. Larger televisions will generally have Full HD and 4K resolution, as well, with a few models sporting 8K.

Like other models, TVs in this size range also support HDR for great contrast and Dolby Vision. However, they still lack some of the more advanced features that you can find on larger televisions.

For a look at brands, check out the leading Hisense TVs and TCL TV comparison against other brands.

How a 40 Inch TV Works

A 40-inch TV works like any other TV — it converts electrical signals into pictures and sounds. If it’s a smart TV, it’ll have an integrated operating system that lets you access and use internet-based content. In this case, there won’t be a need to connect additional streaming devices, like the Amazon Fire Stick or Chromecast.

A smart TV connects to a Wi-Fi network, similar to how you connect to Wi-Fi with your laptop or smartphone. These models come loaded with applications for streaming content, and they also display apps the way they’re shown on your smartphone. For example, apps like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime are typically preloaded on smart TVs.

A dumb TV or non-smart TV comes without built-in internet functionality. But if it has the right connectivity options (HDMI and USB ports), it can be converted into a smart TV using a streaming stick, like the ones mentioned above. If budget is a concern, you may want to check out our guide on the best time of year to buy a new TV to save some money.

Why should you buy a 40 inch TV?

A 40-inch TV is neither too small nor too large, making it a great choice if you’re looking for an upgrade that won’t clutter your space and dominate it. It’s also perfect if you want to place the TV in a mid-sized living room. Let’s look at some more reasons why it’s worth buying and why you’ll want to avoid it.

Are 40 Inch TVs Worth Buying?

  • You Want a Stunning Visual Experience. TV: Bigger TVs offer deeper immersion and a better overall viewing experience. If visuals are your priority, a 40-inch TV will be a good place to start.
  • You Want Advanced Display Technology and 4K: A 40 inch TV can have advanced display technology, like QLED. Some also have support for 4K resolution and HDR.

Why a 40 Inch TV May Not Be for You

  • You Want a Bigger TV: If you’ll be seated around 6 feet away from the TV, a 40 inch display will be fine. But if the distance is more than that or if you’ve got a bigger room, you’ll want to find the best 43-inch TV or something even bigger. While a 40-inch model may not be ideal for a home theater setup, it may be the perfect size for a great bedroom TV.
  • You Don’t Have the Budget: The cost increases as you go up the size chart. If you’re on a tight budget, check out a smaller TV, like the best 32-inch TV for gaming.

How Long Will a 40 Inch TV Last?

How long a TV lasts depends on its quality, how much it’s used, how well it’s maintained, and most importantly, the display technology it uses.

An LCD TV offers around 50,000 to 60,000 hours of viewing. At 8 hours of viewing per day, it can last you close to two decades, but it’s likely to malfunction earlier due to other reasons.

LED TVs have a lifespan between 40,000 and 100,000 hours, but that’s at maximum or near-maximum brightness. Even with heavy use, these TVs will work well for at least 5 to 7 years, and over a decade with moderate or low usage. Beyond that period, you’ll likely notice a decrease in image quality.

OLED TVs are better performing than LED TVs, but the material used in the construction of these panels is organic, so they have a limited lifespan compared to the latter. After about 8 to 10 years of use at optimal settings, you’ll see a decrease in performance and image quality.

QLED TVs use quantum light-emitting diodes to greatly boost the colors and the brightness of images on the screen. Since it’s not based on organic materials, QLED doesn’t degrade over time. This means QLED TVs provide top-of-the-line image quality that lasts longer than most other display technology. At max settings, QLEDs should last from 7 to 10 years or longer without any degradation in visual quality.

QLED TVs are also guaranteed to be burn-in-free, so you can be sure that they’ll offer you the best viewing experience. Burn-in is when static images, like channel logos, are displayed for long periods and leave a permanent outline on the screen.

How to Choose the Best 40 Inch TV

Once you’ve decided to pick up the best 40-inch TV, you must consider several factors to narrow down your selection. Display technology, resolution, and price range are a few of these aspects. Let’s look at these and more below.

40 Inch TV Key Factors

1. What Display Technology Do You Want?

LCD, LED, OLED, and QLED are some of the different display technologies available on the market.

LCD stands for liquid crystal display, and standard LCD monitors use fluorescent tubes to produce light and brighten the picture. Although it costs less than LED, OLED, and QLEDs, the picture quality is relatively low.

LED (light-emitting diode) also uses a liquid crystal display, but instead of fluorescent tubes to produce lights, it relies on light-emitting diodes. This mechanism in LEDs leads to superior picture quality and sharper images than standard LCDs.

While LED and LCDs need backlights to produce brightness, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays need no backlight because they use a sheet of organic LEDs, and each OLED subpixel produces light. This results in deeper blacks, incredible image contrast, and the highest picture quality. Even when viewed from an angle, the visuals retain their quality and sharpness.

QLED (Quantum-dot LED) TVs have traditional LCD panels that are lit by LEDs. A quantum dot layer fills the space between the LCD panel and the backlight to create more saturated colors, but it’s not backlight-free like OLED displays. QLED displays are brighter than OLEDs and are the perfect choice for bright and sunny spaces. But in terms of picture quality and realism, OLEDs are typically better. There are no 40-inch OLED TVs in the market currently, but you’ll find 40 inch QLED TVs.

2. What’s the Resolution?

Resolution refers to the number of pixels that compose the image on the TV display — the higher the number of pixels, the better the quality and sharpness of the visuals.

At HD resolution, you have 921,600 pixels, and it doubles to 2 million with Full HD. But with 4K, you’re looking at a massive 8 million pixels. This is a colossal jump from Full HD images, and it means all the visuals will have incredible clarity despite the size of the display.

4K content has grown substantially over the years, and you’ll find plenty of 4K media on streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. If you love watching films, you’ll want to get a TV that supports 4K resolution so that you can see all the visual elements the way they were intended to be seen. Not just that, even watching your own photos and videos on a 4K TV will feel significantly better.

Some larger TVs offer 8K support now, but there is virtually no 8K content to stream. You also generally won’t find an 8K TV smaller than 65 inches, with the rare model coming in at 55 inches.

3. What’s the Refresh Rate?

The refresh rate determines how many times per second a picture is refreshed on the screen. The standard refresh rate is 60 times per second, and it’s measured in Hertz (60 Hz).

A 60 Hz refresh rate is decent, but if a visual sequence has too many elements moving around swiftly, it can make everything look choppy or blurry. That’s why companies have created monitors and TVs with support for higher refresh rates, like 120 Hz and 240 Hz. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the visuals will look, especially when viewing action films or sports matches.

Gamers will majorly benefit from a TV with a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz because it smoothes out the visuals and ensures the players sees more frames per second. More frames per second provide an immense advantage while playing competitive FPS games.

4. Does It Have HDR?

HDR stands for high-dynamic range, and TVs that support this can capture and produce a wide range of colors. The highlights will also be brighter, the colors will pop, and there’ll be higher contrast so that the visuals look more natural and accurate. Without HDR, a TV can’t reproduce specific colors authentically; it’ll try to use substitute colors, but the result will look different from how the image was originally shot.

HDR is supported across LCD, LED, OLED, and QLED screens, but it’s only available on 4K displays.

5. Is It Smart or Dumb?

Smart TVs have become quite common on the market. The built-in internet functionality and advanced TV operating systems make it super convenient to stream your favorite content at any time. It’s no wonder more people are cutting the cord and moving to streaming services. Although smart TVs are generally more expensive, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a 40 inch dumb TV.

6. What’s Your Budget?

The market is packed with premium TVs that cost thousands of dollars and have advanced features, like 4K resolution and OLED display. But you can easily find the cheapest 40 inch smart TV at an affordable price with a little bit of research. However, if you opt for a curved TV, expect to pay a little more.

Smaller-sized TVs are always less expensive than the larger models, and you’ll find 40-inch smart TVs fall in the range of $300 to $600. If there’s a sale, you can hope to pick one up for a little under $200. Make sure to do your research well, though, as it’s not uncommon to find one with 4K resolution for less than $300.

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